Beta Blockers

[Hoochybaby]

Hi

I’ve posted many times in the past but not for some time

My question is could my beta blocker Bisoprolol fumerate 1.25 mg be causing my rls? The beta blocker was prescribed some 12 years ago for my svt ( super ventricular tachycardia and has worked well all these years BUT if my memory serves me right ( I’m 82!) my rls seemed to occur about the same time

I do take pregabalin every evening 175 mg as well as two 25 mg codeine the meds seemed to work reasonably for a time but not now! I also suffer awful insomnia which keeps my awake til about 2am every night

I’m considering seeing my gp again but I think they have reached the end of the road with my treatment and can’t offer anything else

[Madlegs1]

Unfortunately the answer is -yes.

From this study. 😥

Bisoprolol fumarate and Restless legs syndrome - a phase IV clinical study of FDA data

Summary:

Restless legs syndrome is found among people who take Bisoprolol fumarate, especially for people who are female, 60+ old, have been taking the drug for < 1 month.

The phase IV clinical study analyzes which people take Bisoprolol fumarate and have Restless legs syndrome. It is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 26,966 people who have side effects when taking Bisoprolol fumarate from the FDA, and is updated regularly. You can use the study as a second opinion to make health care decisions.

[SueJohnson in reply to Madlegs1]

I have seen ehealthme a number of times. Basically it just tells you that as it says which people take a medicine or have a condition and also have RLS which is basically meaningless. For example aspirin and RLS - does not mean aspirin makes RLS worse. ehealthme.com/ds/aspirin/re... 499,395 people

[Madlegs1 in reply to SueJohnson]

Ok- I wondered about the formulation of the article-- seemed a bit random.Thanks for the heads up.!👍

[SueJohnson]

In general beta blockers can make RS worse

[SueJohnson]

You might try increasing your pregabalin by 25 mg. According to the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS: "Most RLS patients require 200 to 300 mg of pregabalin daily." Also have you had your ferritin checked?

[Hoochybaby in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks my ferritin levels were over 200 when I had my blood done and I’m stuck with the pregabalin because when increasing to 200 mg I had heart palpitations

[SueJohnson]

You might want to try dipyridamole which has helped many people and in some cases has eliminated their symptoms, In the winter 2022 edition of Night Walkers, the publication of RLS.org there is an article by Sergi Ferre about dipyridamole discussing the effectiveness of it in a 2 week double blind placebo controlled study showing it completely ameliorated all symptoms. The study was by Dr. Garcia Borreguero movementdisorders.onlinelib... sciencedirect.com/science/a... movementdisorders.onlinelib...

[Hoochybaby in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Is the drug dipyridamole available in the uk? And would a gp readily prescribe it?

I must admit I’ve never heard of it!

[SueJohnson]

Yes. It is available in the UK. You would probably have to print out some of the articles to get a doctor to prescribe it. It is something new in the treatment of RLS which is why you haven't heard of it.

[Hoochybaby in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks sueUnfortunately I take Apixaban for atrial fibrillation and taking dipyridamole would increase the risk of severe bleeding and would not be safe for me to use

[SueJohnson]

Could you take dipyridamole in place of Apixaban since they are both blood thinners?

[Hoochybaby in reply to SueJohnson]

I’m not sure I would have to ask gp for adviceBut they know so little about rls it’s hard work

My neurologist at Sheffield wanted me to go back on to a low dosage of pramipexole but I refused

[SueJohnson in reply to Hoochybaby]

Good for you in refusing.